The Gerstner Family Foundation
Gerstner Philanthropies (the Gerstner Family Foundation) is a private family foundation based in Armonk, NY that supports biomedical research, environmental sustainability, education, and the Helping Hands emergency grants program. The site publishes impact reports, grant lists by year, program guidelines, news, and a Board & Staff directory.
Source: Website · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
Established nonprofits or research institutions working in the foundation's stated priorities (environmental research, biomedical research, education scholarships, and emergency grants) with a track record and potential referral or prior relationship to program staff.
Good Fit
- • Programmatic alignment with environmental research, biomedical research, education scholarships, or emergency/food-security work.
- • Organizational track record and capacity to manage mid-size to large grants (many awards in the $100K–$1M range).
- • Located or operating in states where the foundation actively funds (notably New York, but also FL, DC, MA, CA and others).
- • Existing introductions, referrals, or relationships with program staff or board networks.
Geography
Observed giving in 2024 reached nine states and includes major grants to organizations across the country, though New York received a substantial share (about 36%).
Recipient Variety
The latest year shows 38 distinct grantees across multiple program areas and only six repeat recipients across the three-year window, indicating a broad and diverse recipient set for this foundation's size.
New Applicants
Behavioral evidence shows many new grantees (32 new in 2024), but the foundation publicly states it funds only preselected applicants and does not accept unsolicited requests, so unfamiliar applicants are unlikely to enter via a formal open application and should pursue referrals or introductions.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
